The Shadow of Retribution: A tale of vengeance and the price of justice.

Chapter 16

The Present
1st December 2025
Pune, India

I've been feeling off lately, but I keep putting on a mask and heading to work, even though all the recent office events have been draining. Abhir, my colleague, seems more than impressed by my work. In fact, he’s showing signs of being interested in me. He probably didn’t expect my silence when he asked personal questions—I've always made it seem like I enjoyed his attention. Today, he tried to bring it up again, and I kept up my act.

“Are we still not there yet?” he asked, startling me, as I hadn’t realized he was standing right behind me, practically breathing down my neck—and we were in the women’s room.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I demanded, turning to face him. Abhir just stared at me with genuine concern in his eyes. Surprised, I realized he actually cared.

“I see you crying after everyone leaves the bar,” he said, tense and worried. “Why is that? Is someone bothering you? Is something wrong?”

“Why do you hang back at the bar every night?” I shot back, trying to brush him off. “Or are you keeping tabs on me? And why the sudden interest? I thought you were uninterested after I ignored your attempts at flirting.”

Even with my deflections, he persisted. “Just tell me, if you don’t want to explain the tears, then at least tell me about the guy at the bar. Who is he to you?”

“That’s none of your business,” I replied sharply, turning to leave.

But he grabbed my arm, pulling me back with an intensity I hadn't seen in him before. “Tell me. Answer me,” he demanded, his grip firm.

A part of me relished the game I was playing. Dominant, huh? This could be interesting, I thought. Still, I kept my composure. “Let go of me and don’t touch me again,” I said sternly, voice unwavering.

For a moment, he held me close, as if about to kiss me. I almost prayed he wouldn’t, but I was ready to play along if it came to that. “Please, just let go. I’m not feeling well,” I said quietly, and after a beat, he released me, apologizing and admitting he didn’t understand why he’d acted that way. But I knew. He was slipping right into my plan.

Tomorrow, Subhan and I are heading to Kolkata on business—he needs some equipment, and I have unfinished matters there too. I’m certain Abhir will find out and might not like it one bit.

Later, I caught up with Subhan at the bar, giving him a rundown of everything. I could feel Abhir’s eyes on me the entire time, watching every move I made. Eventually, I headed home.

Once there, I opened a bottle of whiskey, poured myself a glass, lit some weed, and let trance music fill the room. I laughed to myself, feeling almost euphoric. Maybe I was going crazy. But as the night wore on, that laughter echoed in the empty room—fueled by nothing but the thought of revenge.